Thousands march through Boston week after Virginia bloodshed

BOSTON (AP) — Thousands of leftist counterprotesters marched peaceably through downtown Boston on Saturday, chanting anti-Nazi slogans and waving signs condemning white nationalism ahead of a rally being staged by conservative activists a week after a Virginia demonstration turned deadly.
Police Commissioner William Evans said Friday that 500 officers — some in uniform, others undercover — were deployed to keep the two groups apart Saturday. Boston’s Democratic mayor, Marty Walsh, and Massachusetts’ Republican governor, Charlie Baker, both warned that extremist unrest wouldn’t be tolerated in this city famed as the cradle of American liberty.

Counterprotesters hold signs and chant at the Statehouse before a planned “Free Speech” rally by conservative organizers begin on the adjacent Boston Common, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017, in Boston. Police Commissioner William Evans said Friday that 500 officers, some in uniform, others undercover, would be deployed to keep the two groups apart. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Organizers of the midday event, billed as a “Free Speech Rally,” have publicly distanced themselves from the neo-Nazis, white supremacists and others who fomented violence in Charlottesville on Aug. 12. A woman was killed at that Unite the Right rally, and scores of others were injured, when a car plowed into counterdemonstrators.
But opponents feared that white nationalists might show up in Boston anyway, raising the specter of ugly confrontations in the first potentially large and racially charged gathering in a major U.S. city since Charlottesville.
Events are planned around the country, in cities including Atlanta, Dallas and New Orleans.
Walsh greeted counterprotesters Saturday morning outside Reggie Lewis Center in the city’s Roxbury neighborhood. Counterprotesters from Black Lives Matter and other groups denouncing racism and anti-Semitism marching from there to the Common, and another group plans to rally on the steps of the Statehouse overlooking the sprawling park.
Some counterprotesters dressed entirely in black and wore bandannas over their faces. They chanted anti-Nazi and anti-fascism slogans, and waved signs that said: “Love your neighbor,” ”Resist fascism” and “Hate never made U.S. great.”
Boston police estimated the size of the crowd participating in the march to the Common at about 15,000.
The permit issued for the rally on Boston Common came with severe restrictions, including a ban on backpacks, sticks and anything that could be used as a weapon. The permit is for 100 people, though an organizer has said he expected up to 1,000 people to attend.
The Boston Free Speech Coalition, which organized the event, said it has nothing to do with white nationalism or racism and its group is not affiliated with the Charlottesville rally organizers in any way.
“We are strictly about free speech,” the group said on its Facebook page. “… we will not be offering our platform to racism or bigotry. We denounce the politics of supremacy and violence.”
But the mayor pointed out that some of those invited to speak “spew hate.” Kyle Chapman, who described himself on Facebook as a “proud American nationalist,” said he will attend.
Black Lives Matter said Friday that members from around the U.S. planned to march Saturday in Boston.
Walsh said the city would do whatever is necessary to head off violence initiated by either side. “If anyone gets out of control — at all — it will be shut down,” he said.
“We will not tolerate any misbehavior, violence or vandalism whatsoever,” said Evans, Boston’s top cop.
Dating to 1634, Boston Common is the nation’s oldest city park. The leafy downtown park is popular with locals and tourists and has been the scene of numerous rallies and protests for centuries.

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23 thoughts on “Thousands march through Boston week after Virginia bloodshed”

busy bodies up to it every where. Why is it so hard for people to get along?People just treat each other fairly and with respect and worry about succeeding in your own life and we won’t have these problems.The marching does no good and should be done away with.The human race sucks.

Leftist. LOL Let me guess, anybody whose political persuasion was to the left of George Wallace’s views would be considered a “Leftist.”

Considering how badly these “Leftists” outnumbered those that attended the Boston Free Speech Coalition, I’d say these “Leftists” were mainstream while the organizers and attendees of the original rally are the out-of-touch extremists.

Time to update your definitions. The Alt-Right, with its actions in Charlotte, has awoken the moral majority and they are not happy.

You speak foolishly. Who committed the violence in Charlotte??? DEMOCRATS They outnumbered the statue saving group 5to1 add in the police who did nothing to stop it..

WE (patriots of freedom) were outnumbered because by nature we are not protesters, we are peaceful family people.. Who’d rather spend our DAY OFF FROM WORK with our families..Get it day off from work…

On the other hand you have the radical left, none of which have JOBS, their only income comes from being PAID PROTESTORS…had they put this much effort into finding jobs and contributed to society, we’d be a better nation… BUT be warned these peaceful conservatives are the same people who saved this world from evil several times…

I really think it’s time to split this nation in 2..YOU lefties have mississippi river WEST we have the east..Anyone crossing is immediately killed…See who lasts longer… Take your illegals, gang members, pedophiles, Transgenders and welfare slugs… Any AMERICANS wanting the opportunity to succeed can come with us..

That’s strange, I don’t remember the driver of the 2010 Challenger who killed one person and injured about 20 more as being a Democrat do you?

I glad to read that you spend your DAY OFF FROM WORK with your families. I do too. What’s your point, that you’re too LAZY to get involved in causes that matter?

You say none of the radical left have JOBS? How do you know? Crystal Ball? You sya they get their income from being PAID PROTESTERS (sic)? Where’s your proof? Some alternative facts pushed by FAUX NEWS?

You want to split the nation in two and have a civil war you say? I got a better idea, lay off the steroids, they’re rotting your brains, again.

Nope, it’s just that Boston and most of the rest of Mass are liberals. Ever been to Cape Cod? There ya go. Moral majority? The leftist liberals? The ones around the world who believe in aborting Downs children and euthanizing sick people, or the ones who are now destroying and vandalizing religious statues? That moral majority?

AGAIN.. The anti-freedom FAR LEFT radical Democrat party HAS TO try to ruin an event they were not invited to..Calling CONSERVATIVES Nazis…When in all actuality Democrats use NAZI tactics EVERY DAY..
Gain control of the press YES
Gain control of education YES
Break up the family unit YES
Take over healthcare YES
Intimidate the opposition by using terms like Nazi, Racist, Bigot. BUT, THEY WILL NOT intimidate PATRIOTS..

Uhh the people of Boston already did intimidate the FAUX Patriots, read Neo-Nazis. In case you haven’t heard, the FAUX Patriots left Boston early with nary a speech and their hairless tails between their legs. LOL

The fat, half clothed idiots toppling, spitting on and stomping on pubic property have little to do with a war or slavery. Control, power, & delegitimizing our government & President is the goal. These fools have no idea what a great country they live in. They are the paid thugs of Soros and the Democrats. They wear suits & dresses but treat Americans with the same lack of respect their hired help display in toppling historic statues. Lying and getting cover from the press every step of the way. Problem is the silent majority is awake and we will not be toppled, controlled or delegitimized!

1blessed is either an acolyte of Vladimir Lenin who stated “A lie told often enough becomes the truth” or Joseph Goebbels who stated “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.”

Either way, fascist or communist, he’s a mendacious extremist that when pressed for facts, can’t produce them.

Since we have a wish list , lets not let the people who dont pay taxes vote.
Or be a man and suck it up your party lost .it should be building character not turning you into whinny spoiled Americans that every other country scoffs at.and dividing a nation .
What do you hope to gain do you think the right will forget?
You babies ruined America for a long time.

You are so right! Especially the point of not letting non-tax payers a vote! I’ll take it further, if you are on any state aid (i.e. – Welfare, Section 8, WIC, SNAP…) should not be allowed to vote. Take that away and the Dems will lose their voter base who they keep enslaved by keeping them down. Dems NEVER help these people improve their lives by helping educate themselves, get jobs…instead they keep paying them to keep them from being productive members of society. Appalling!

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